THE ACOLYTE premiered on Disney+ on June 4! We review and break down the first two episodes of this mystery-thriller Star Wars series with Mike Celestino ( Laughing Place / Who’s the Bossk Podcast) . The series is set at the end of the High Republic era of Star Wars, and 100 years before THE PHANTOM MENACE. Mike brings his extensive knowledge of THE HIGH REPUBLIC publishing initiative to our discussion, sharing the links between the two. He also attended THE ACOLYTE Hollywood premiere. Richard a...
Jun 04, 2024•1 hr 37 min•Ep. 467
Chris Bartlett, performance artist, actor, and droid whisperer, is back to discuss her MANY roles in the Star Wars Disney+ universe. What was it like working with Grogu and Werner Herzog? What does Ewan MacGregor do when he sees you fall down as a droid? Chris shares so many stories from the sets of The Mandalorian, Ahsoka, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and The Book of Boba Fett . Would you like to meet Chris Bartlett and other Star Wars actors in person? Spencer Jawitz (Virtual Cantina / Star Wars Celebratio...
May 30, 2024•1 hr 30 min•Ep. 466
Performance artist, actor, and droid whisperer Chris Bartlett has played over 20 characters in The Mandalorian, Ahsoka, Obi-Wan Kenobi, The Book of Boba Fett , plus nearly 2 decades appearing live and onscreen as C-3PO. He joins us to discuss his acting career which took shape from his great work ethic and desire to please Star Wars fans. We talk extensively about his experiences as C-3PO and how he brings the droid to life in this Part 1. We recorded on May 21st, the 44th anniversary of The Emp...
May 23, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 465
Do you recall the first ever expanded Star Wars Universe story waaay back in 1977? Long before Thrawn, Mara Jade, and Exar Kun there was Crimson Jack, Serji-X, and Jaxxon in Classic Marvel Star Wars Comics! Cary Gordon (Metal Geeks Podcast / Comicpalooza Podcast Manager) join us to break down these four comic issues. We go over the story, reveal lots of FTOOM Fast Facts, and share what these comics have meant to us and the greater Star Wars universe over 45 years. Comics discussed: Star Wars Iss...
May 16, 2024•1 hr 25 min•Ep. 464
BONUS EPISODE! “What a Wonderful Day!” Talking Ape hosts Richard Woloski and Kevin Toft break down the long-awaited KINGDOM OF THE PLANET OF THE APES. Former Talking Apes co-host Mark Oguschewitz ( Underexposed Cinematic Treasures ) joins in as we discuss the story, favorite moments, funniest moments, and easter eggs. How many easter eggs did you find? We found lots that connected the classic films and TV series. We may have forced some but we got them to work. We also discuss the “gospel” word ...
May 13, 2024•1 hr 44 min
Another chapter has closed on a great Star Wars animated series - STAR WARS: THE BAD BATCH. Richard and Sarah break down the series finale, “The Cavalry Has Arrived.” Was it everything we expected? Where do our favorite defective, yet EFFECTIVE, clones go from here. When will we see Omega again. Our discussion covers everything from emotional moments to music to character journeys in the series. We also share your thoughts, as we recorded the episode live on our YouTube channel. Today in Star Wa...
May 09, 2024•1 hr 7 min•Ep. 463
Star Wars Month is HERE, and we are celebrating with a breakdown of the NEW Disney+ anthology series, TALES OF THE EMPIRE (airing May 4th). The six episodes feature two characters, Morgan Elsbeth and Barriss Offee, following their journeys as they descend towards the dark side. Richard and Sarah analyze each episode, sharing music analysis, Easter eggs, and story points. We also play highlights from the virtual press event, where Richard and Sarah joined a Star Wars fan outlet roundtable to talk...
May 04, 2024•1 hr 20 min•Ep. 462
Warren Proulx joins us this week to break down his roles and share behind the scenes stories on The Mandalorian, Book of Boba Fett, Obi-Wan Kenobi , and Ahsoka . We get into the weeds about working in the costumes and what happens when nature calls. There’s even a little about the upcoming show, Skeleton Crew . Come say hi to Warren at Scum & Villainy on July 29 as part of the Virtual Cantina tour. Listen to our conversation for a special code word. SPONSORS Small World Vacations is an offic...
May 02, 2024•59 min•Ep. 461
Bambi Moé, Former Vice President of Music for Walt Disney Television Animation, talks about her work at the Walt Disney Company and her amazing book, Part of the Magic: A Collection of Disney-Inspired Brushes with Greatness . She has worked with and met so many influential people and tells us some of those stories. You’ll hear about The Monkees, Robin Williams, Drew Barrymore, and Michael Jackson, to name just a few. These stories are meant to whet your appetite, because Part of the Magic is ava...
Apr 25, 2024•1 hr 18 min•Ep. 460
The Dune II Popcorn bucket made its mark on pop culture over the past month, from social media mayhem to an SNL sketch! We turned to one of its creators & former STN guest, Marcus Gonzalez ( Zinc Group & former Walt Disney Co. CM), to talk about how theme park and movie theater collectibles have formed their own collecting subculture. From Disney Parks favorites like the Millennium Falcon bucket & Iron Man Infinity Gauntlet sipper to movie theater exclusives like the Dune and Dungeon...
Apr 17, 2024•1 hr 6 min•Ep. 459
We break down Season of the Force so you know exactly what to expect, what to eat, what to see, and what to BUY at Disneyland, from April 5 through June 2, 2024!! Opening day was an absolute blast - we flew with purrgil, met Sabine Wren, and ate popcorn out of a Hutt’s mouth. We will also share with you Imagineer and Lucasfilm interviews from our very early press morning, where we learned some great behind-the-scenes info on the Star Tours update and Season of the Force. Interviews include: Imag...
Apr 10, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Ep. 458
This episode features a history of Star Wars in the Disney Parks! As we lead up to Season of the Force 2024 at the Disneyland Resort, Richard and Sarah look back at 37 years of Star Wars/Disney Parks crossovers - including the Darth Vader ballet!! We share fun facts and stories about Galaxy’s Edge, Star Tours, the first Season of the Force, Star Wars Weekends, and more! We recorded this episode on April 1st, which marks Matt Lanter’s birthday! Matt Lanter voiced Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars: Th...
Apr 04, 2024•1 hr 16 min•Ep. 457
We break down THE BAD BATCH Season 3, Episodes 4-7 with James Floyd from Star Warsologies ! This is the midpoint of season, so we discuss several theories, the music, and where we think this series will end up. Who are these Clone X’s?? Let's get to the bottom of Project Necromancer. There are also several references to films we know and love - Jurassic Park and Terminator . As with all great discussions, we made some excellent discoveries along the way. Episodes discussed: S3:E4 “A Different Ap...
Mar 21, 2024•1 hr 36 min•Ep. 456
After 9 years we’ve done it! THIS is the Classic Marvel Star Wars Comics issue that coincides with Sarah’s birth in March 1981!! Issue #48 “THE THIRD LAW” is an appropriately Princess Leia-centric episode in which she faces off against Darth Vader, and the Star Wars universe was introduced to the Garden of Butterflies. We recommend watching the video version (above) of this episode which contains the full comic as we page through it. Classic Marvel Star Wars Comics #48 “THE THIRD LAW" Release Da...
Mar 14, 2024•1 hr 37 min•Ep. 455
Best way to consume this podcast: https://youtu.be/0wEf-vWejug Crawl out of that tauntaun, grab a cup of warm blue milk, and settle in for exciting stories about vacationing on the ice world of Hoth! On March 5, 1979, principal photography began in Finse, Norway for THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK. Mark Newbold of Fantha Tracks visited these icy plains. He stood on the grounds where Luke Skywalker was attacked by a wampa, he walked the snowy terrain where the great AT-AT battle took place, and he got to...
Mar 07, 2024•1 hr 24 min•Ep. 454
Are you ready to take a trip with us to Droid World? In the early days of Star Wars - 1981 - this comic book world was inhabited by colorful and vengeful warbots! Luke Skywalker, R2-D2 and C-3P0 go on an adventure and we are here for it! Richard and Sarah share their thoughts as they read through this classic Marvel comic. Do you remember reading it? Did you listen to the adapted book-and-record The Further Adventures: Droid World (1983)? Or is this your first time? We recommend watching the vid...
Feb 29, 2024•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 453
Richard and Sarah review and breakdown the first three episodes of THE BAD BATCH season 3 which premiered on 2/21 on Disney+! We were also part of a Star Wars fan site roundtable hosted by Disney and Lucasfilm, which shed fantastic and relevant insight into The Bad Batch from the showrunners Brad Rau (executive producer) and Jennifer Corbett (head writer, executive producer), along with the voice of Omega, Michelle Ang, and the voice of The Bad Batch, Dee Bradley Baker. We've sprinkled in releva...
Feb 21, 2024•1 hr 12 min•Ep. 452
This is a discussion with Eddie Munster himself - Butch Patrick! Richard grew up watching Butch Patrick in just about everything from Shazam (1974) , Lidsville (1971-72) , The Phantom Tollbooth (1970) , The Munsters (1964-66), and The Monkees 1967 Christmas episode. In that episode Butch plays Melvin Vandersnoot, a child of 10 going on 65 with no Christmas spirit. Of course, The Monkees change that by the end, and it’s a heartwarming tale that Richard and Sarah watch every year on Christmas day....
Feb 15, 2024•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 451
If you love theme parks, then you are going to love this episode! Courtney & Kelly Turckel (Neverland Clubhouse) join us to compare and contrast Disneyland Resort to Universal Studios Hollywood - ranking them in terms of price, experience, attractions, food, theming and more. Richard and Sarah conceived of this episode back in December, when our top-level Disneyland Magic Keys blocked us out of that theme park over the Christmas holiday. So we did some research and bought the top-level Plati...
Feb 08, 2024•1 hr 53 min•Ep. 450
What is the Genie from Aladdin doing in a Classic Marvel Star Wars comic? And why is it purple? Who is Cody Sunn-Childe? How does this comic relate to the Mortis Arc and World Between Worlds in Star Wars? Richard and Sarah answer all of these questions as they meticulously delve into Issue #46 "Dreadnaught Devourer" OR "The Dreams of Cody Sunn-Childe." We recommend watching the video version on YouTube which contains the full comic as we page through it. Classic Marvel Star Wars Comics #46 “DREA...
Feb 01, 2024•1 hr 46 min•Ep. 449
Soundtrack lovers, this episode is for you!! Mike Matessino, film historian & soundtrack producer/mixer/engineer, joins us to discuss his fascinating career. For 30+ years, Mike has edited, mixed, restored, and master engineered expanded & deluxe edition soundtracks such as the Star Wars original trilogy (1997 Special Edition release), Star Trek: The Motion Picture, Planet of the Apes, Hook, Harry Potter , and The Sound of Music - Super Deluxe Edition . Sarah used to pour over Mike’s lin...
Jan 25, 2024•2 hr 12 min•Ep. 448
YouTube version: https://youtu.be/TSAdvCZ2mgw Law Professor B.J. Priester ( FanGirl Blog ) joins us to share the ins and outs of public domain and trademarks, especially as it applies to beloved characters like Mickey and Minnie Mouse. It has been 95 years since the introduction of Disney’s iconic mice and Tigger, which means anyone can use these characters without Disney’s consent. However, it’s a bit more complicated, and so much more interesting, than that, so BJ helps to break it all down, a...
Jan 18, 2024•1 hr 44 min•Ep. 447
It’s our annual year-end wrap-up spectacular!! We take a look back at 2023 - the highs and lows, what may or may not have met our expectations, our personal goals, and so much more. And we invited some friends to join us - Melissa Miller from Star Warsologies (which can be found here on the Skywalking Network), and Spencer Jawitz from Virtual Cantina Network! From BARBIE to INDIANA JONES, San Diego Comic-Con panels to Boonta Eve event at Star Wars Celebration Europe, and…ROGERS: The Musical!! So...
Jan 11, 2024•2 hr 11 min•Ep. 446
How much do you know about Charles Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”? On this episode we share the novela’s 1843 origins, then fast forward through 180 years of incredible adaptations! THE MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL, SCROOGED, MICKEY’S CHRISTMAS CAROL, SPIRITED, and so many more. What is the pop culture impact of “A Christmas Carol” and how has it affected us personally? Richard and Sarah share their favorites, and Skywalkers weigh in with their comments. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you all! Oh...
Dec 21, 2023•1 hr 24 min•Ep. 445
Join Sarah, Courtney, and Kelly as they take you on our weekend at Disneyland. We went to Disneyland on November 17th -19th and it was a weekend of Celebration. It was Life Day in Galaxy's Edge, the start of Christmas time in the parks and we celebrated Courtney's Birthday! We recap the experience, including Viva Navidad and the new Adventureland Treehouse. We recommend you watch the video version above for the best experience. Then we take you to San Francisco where Courtney and Kelly take you ...
Dec 14, 2023•1 hr 9 min
“Mickey’s Christmas Tales” is a NEW series of stop-motion animated shorts on Disney+. We are going to break down these ultra CUTE shorts, plus an amazing documentary “Christmas With Walt Disney”. Here to join us and add some great Disney historical perspective is our friend and podcaster Teresa Delgado! We pose many questions that we hope you can help with such as, what is up with Bitsy? And what is the deal with Santa and Mrs. Claus - are they dogs? Which animated short is our favorite? Watch o...
Dec 07, 2023•1 hr 40 min•Ep. 444
It’s Classic Marvel Star Wars Comics LIVE from Long Beach ComicCon! Richard and Sarah did a panel breaking down Issue #45 - DEATH PROBE. We had a large screen where the audience could see the panels, and we even did a Hostess/Marvel ad where we brought in a special guest. Luckily we recorded the entire panel on video, as well as our wrap-arounds for this week. We recommend watching the video version here: https://youtu.be/InhUMPqbj4M Classic Marvel Star Wars Comics #45 “DEATH PROBE" Release Date...
Nov 30, 2023•1 hr 15 min•Ep. 443
Time to break down Disney’s NEW animated film, celebrating 100 years of Animation - WISH! We also will share stories, pictures and videos from our WISH press day at Walt Disney Animation Studios in Burbank, CA, where we learned so much about the animation process, and visited Walt’s office!! There won’t be any spoilers for the film until we warn you, so you can listen up to that point if you haven’t seen the movie. For the best experience, please tune in to this podcast episode on YouTube. Watch...
Nov 22, 2023•1 hr 23 min•Ep. 442
THE MARVELS is here, and we share our review and breakdown of the film with Skrull actor Paul Warren! Is Iman Vellani (Ms. Marvel) the new “Nick Fury” of Marvel? What did we think of the more “out-there” scenes with show tunes and flerkittens? What crazy behind-the-scenes stories does Paul Warren share? Let’s go higher, further, faster together! Paul also shares fun stories of his time working on STAR WARS: ANDOR. You can read our review of The Marvels . Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for more...
Nov 16, 2023•1 hr 55 min•Ep. 441
Who animated the iconic BOBA FETT in THE STAR WARS HOLIDAY SPECIAL? John Celestri! John joins us in a fascinating discussion on the inception and animation of “The Faithful Wookiee” animated short from The Star Wars Holiday Special. Since he was the senior animator at Nelvana Studios, John had his pick of characters from the special, so he took on Boba Fett, of course. Our discussion includes answers to burning questions: Exactly which Moebius designs propelled the look of “The Faithful Wookiee”...
Nov 08, 2023•1 hr 27 min•Ep. 440
